It was ugly to the end but Brisbane ground out a 16-12 National Rugby League win over Queensland rivals North Queensland at Suncorp Stadium.
It was far from champagne football, with the combined error count soaring to 24 that did little to dull the spirits of the 42,303-strong crowd.
Makeshift five-eighth Kiwis international Josh Hoffman, playing just his second NRL match in the position, put in a peach of a cross-field grubber for Daniel Vidot to latch on to and give the Broncos a 10-6 halftime lead.
But the Cowboys levelled the scores again in the 48th minute when winger Kyle Feldt batted back a Lui cross-field kick for Cooper to pounce on and score.
McGuire's shot on Lui and the ensuing penalty allowed Thurston to put his side in front 12-10, kicking a goal from just to the left of the uprights.
Linnett was denied a try in the 67th minute when he knocked the ball on trying to ground it in the left corner.
The narrow margin continued the intense rivalry that has included four of the last seven games between the two teams being won by just two points.
